VZCZCXRO2692
OO RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHOS #0305/01 2171201
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 041201Z AUG 08
FM AMCONSUL LAGOS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0086
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RUEHYD/AMEMBASSY YAOUNDE 0165
RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH AFB UK
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
RHMCSUU/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RHEDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEWMFD/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 LAGOS 000305 
 
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - HANDLE ACCORDINGLY 
SIPDIS 
 
DOE FOR GPERSON,CHAYLOCK 
TREASURY FOR DFIELDS, AIERONIMO, RHALL 
DOC FOR 3317/ITA/OA/KBURRESS 
STATE PASS USTR FOR USTR AGAMA 
STATE PASS USAID FOR GWEYNAND AND SLAWAETZ 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PHUM NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIA: MILITANTS TELL THEIR STORIES AT 
NON-VIOLENCE TRAINING GRADUATION 
 
REF: A) SEPTEL B) LAGOS 244 
 
Sensitive But Unclassified;  Handle Accordingly 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary:  Over 100 formerly militant Niger Delta 
youths graduated from nonviolence training sponsored by the 
Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) through the 
Foundation for Ethnic Harmony (FEHN) with trainers from the 
University of Rhode Island's Center for the Study of Peace 
and Nonviolence on July 12.  NDDC Managing Director Timi 
Alaibe Director told the youths he would turn the potential 
they showed through their militant ventures toward productive 
pursuits through skills training to follow the second phase 
of nonviolence training in South Africa. Whether Alaibe's 
training plans are as solid as he made them sound remains to 
be seen.  End Summary 
 
¶2. (SBU) Pol-Econ Chief attended the graduation ceremony for 
the final class of over 100 former militants from the Niger 
Delta Development Commission (NDDC)-sponsored training in 
nonviolence principles and practices conducted by the 
Foundation for Ethnic Harmony (FEHN) with trainers from the 
University of Rhode Island's Center for the Study of Peace 
and Nonviolence.  Graduates spoke positively about the impact 
the five day training had had on their lives. 
 
NDDC Promises Training, Jobs 
---------------------------- 
 
¶3. (SBU) Timi Alaibe, Managing Director of NDDC, told the 
group he knows how much potential they have because some of 
them had "left Bayelsa at midnight and gone 75 kilometers out 
into the sea through dangerous reefs with no compass" to 
Bonga.  Others he said had "left Port Harcourt and spent 
three hours on the sea to travel to Bakassi, with 6 drums of 
fuel in your boats."  This natural seafaring talent and raw 
strength is what he wants to turn into positive skills and 
opportunities, Alaibe said.  He told the women he understood 
how crucial their roles had been in militant activity; 
sleeping with those targeted for kidnapping, obtaining and 
passing information; they too need to learn new talents to 
put to productive use. 
 
¶4. (SBU) Following the second phase of nonviolence training, 
to take place in South Africa, Alaibe has arranged to have 
some of the youths train in Norway in seafaring techniques. 
This will give them the skills with which to take up the 
positions as pilots that are mandated to go to Nigerians 
under Nigeria's cabotage law.  He has also arranged for some 
youths to receive  training as crane operators, divers, 
undersea welders, and in other marketable skills.  While some 
of these skills are connected to the oil industry, he will 
also provide skills training for them in agriculture, in 
aquaculture, in raising of grasscutters (Note: An edible 
rodent. End note) and snails. 
 
¶5. (SBU) Alaibe told the youths that they do not need a grant 
of amnesty from the Federal Government;  they have amnesty by 
reason of having taken the training and giving up violence. 
Alaibe thanked Dr. Bernard LaFayette of the University of 
Rhode Island's Center for Peace and Nonviolence Studies, who, 
Alaibe said, was "subsidizing" the current NDDC-funded 
training for 600 students.  He said he wants to train another 
5,000 youths, and called on the trainers to take the 
trainings into the camps themselves so that more youths could 
be reached by the program. 
 
¶6. (SBU) Following the speech, Alaibe told Pol-Econ Chief he 
believes that the transformation that these youths undergo 
through training in nonviolence is essential to their success 
in subsequent endeavors. In the past, youths who have not had 
this training were uncontrollable.  When their payday fell on 
a Saturday, they were not willing to wait until Monday to get 
their salaries; instead they tore up the office, breaking 
furniture and windows, Alaibe said.  He introduced two youths 
 
LAGOS 00000305  002 OF 002 
 
 
who had gone through the earliest trainings in 2006 who are 
now working for NDDC, as well as one who is now working for 
the Delta State government, he said. 
 
¶7. (SBU) Comment: These youths, many of whom came straight 
from militant camps only five days before, were unassuming, 
polite and deferential, especially to the NDDC Director who 
received bows and a standing ovation at the close of his 
speech.  Whether the plans for skills training Alaibe 
described are as solid as he made them sound remains to be 
seen. 
 
This cable has been cleared by Embassy Abuja. 
 
 
BLAIR